Blogging from the Highlands of Scotland until I return to the Murcia region of Spain in the Autumn for a month or so'From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step' - Diderot

Friday, 27 November 2015

Murder in Nairn - almost 11 years and fears hope may be fading of finding the killer, or even a motive?

In advance of the 11th anniversary of the murder of Mr Alistair Wilson, which will be tomorrow, regional newspaper The Press and Journal has published today a very interesting and detailed article, which apart from a detailed timeline of events since the murder, reiterates the belief of Police Scotland that they have "enough data and evidence" to find the shooter, and that they were just awaiting the "final piece", also that the "investigation remains active and ongoing". Police Scotland state "We will consider all forensic and investigative opportunities. We remain absolutely committed to tracing the person responsible for Alistair’s death and continue to ask the public for any information which might assist us."

On the other hand, former Highland Council Convener, and Nairn Councillor for more than two decades and a former Provost of Nairn, Sandy Park, is quoted as saying that that he was "very doubtful" that the banker’s killer would be found. He is also quoted as saying: "Obviously there have been cases that have been solved 20 or 30 years later with the modern DNA, and I’d like to think the police case is not closed and that there are on-going investigations. I would like to think it would be solved but it is 11 years so you would think it would be less and less likely. I’m still living in hope that they will get the culprit eventually, but I’m very doubtful. As far as the community is concerned I think it has moved on quite a bit since then. It’s just when the anniversary comes along that it makes you think about it again." That sums up pretty well how I feel about this sad matter, too.

On the other hand another Nairn Councillor and the current Provost of Nairn, Laurie Fraser, is quoted as saying: "I don’t think the community will ever forget about it. I think eventually there will be a resolution of some kind in the future but we may have to wait 10 years. It has always been a very difficult case for the police. They must have exhausted every single line of inquiry and they must just be waiting for something to happen. I think technological advances will be difficult. We’ve pretty much seen all the advances."

Ms Mary Scanlon, a Conservative MSP, has apparently criticised the failure to trace the murderer: "This was a deeply tragic case and despite years of searching for answers it is disappointing that Police Scotland have not came close to catching Alistair Wilson’s killer. Nairn is such a close-knit community and his murder has affected everyone. After 10 years, the police should be stepping up their operations rather than scaling down to solve this crime once and for all. I had hoped that the forming of Police Scotland would allow expertise from the force across Scotland to be drawn in to fully investigate this tragic death of a young man and father. It is very disappointing that Alastair Wilson’s name is now added to the list of unsolved murders in the Highlands." Whilst I share her frustration, it seems to me that Northern Police and its successor Police Scotland have been working diligently on this case and cannot be criticised for not being open to examine all lines of investigation they become aware of and for continuing to solicit the assistance of the public to try and find further clues and/or evidence about why this crime happened and who carried it out. Unfortunately the crime sleuths of fiction, whether Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot or Inspector Morse are just that, creatures of fiction.

One can only hope that one day, hopefully soon, progress will be made so that a suspect can be identified, taken to court and if found guilty, convicted.

You can visit the page for this unsolved crime in the Police Scotland website here:

Alistair Wilson

Anyone with any information in connection with the murder of 30-year-old banker Alistair Wilson should contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Contact Us
Contact Police Scotland on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111

My most recent previous article on the murder is here. There are links to all my posts on this murder, so close to where I live, in the right-hand column under the heading 'Murder in Nairn' articles.

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